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I just had a performance review, and it was extremely positive, but my boss said there was no room in the budget for a raise and there likely wouldn’t be next year either. My salary is already under market, and this has left me disgruntled and disheartened. I’d like to go back to my boss with some constructive thoughts. Advice?

Getting a pat on the back but no raise isn’t great, but it could be worse. You could be getting a pat on the back on your way out the door, like millions of others.

There’s no harm telling your boss that no prospect for a raise for a couple of years is hard, particularly if your pay is below market. Just recognize that your employer may not be able to afford raises without jeopardizing workers’ jobs — i.e., your job. If everyone in the company is sacrificing, then there’s no need to feel disheartened. And nothing is preventing you from looking for a new job in the meantime.

I lost my job teaching music, and have looked for another to no avail. I’ve had school districts say they can’t hire me because I have too much experience and they’d have to pay me a salary above entry level — and the union won’t let me waive my experience. How can I reinvent myself in a career that would utilize my experience?

We love our teachers, but school bureaucracies can make it a frustrating profession. If the rules indeed do not allow you to be hired for a job at a lower salary when you’re perfectly willing to accept it then “somethin’ ain’t right,” as my 6th grade English teacher would say.

You have to go where the jobs are — which may mean getting certified to teach in other districts or cities, or switching to private schools, where there is usually more flexibility in hiring. In the interim, consider tutoring. It can provide significant supplemental income, as there is no shortage of stage parents who think their little monster is going to be the next Lady Gaga and are willing to pay to develop her alleged talent.